Gita 1.31
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे।।
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava na ca śreyo 'nupaśyāmi hatvā sva-janam āhave
"I see bad omens, O Krishna. I cannot see any good coming from killing my own relatives in battle."
What This Means:
Arjuna now sees negative signs everywhere—interpreting his symptoms as omens of disaster. He can't imagine any good outcome from this war. His mind is building a case for retreat.
Going Deeper:
When we're looking for reasons to avoid something, we find them everywhere. Arjuna's 'omens' are his own fear projected onto circumstances. The mind is skilled at finding justification for what it's already decided.
How To Apply This:
Notice when you're finding 'signs' that conveniently support what you want to do anyway. Are these genuine insights or rationalizations? Fear is creative in generating reasons.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Nimitta= Omen, sign, causeViparīta= Contrary, inauspiciousShreya= Good, welfare, benefit